MovieChat Forums > General Discussion > Favorite Albums of the 1970s

Favorite Albums of the 1970s

posted a month ago by BillHicksFan (10559)
40 replies | jump to latest

(I'm only going to put one per artist/band)

Pink Floyd - The Dark Side of the Moon
The Doors - L.A. Woman
Supertramp - Crime of the Century
Chicago - VII
John Lennon - Walls and Bridges
Black Sabbath - s/t
Led Zeppelin - Houses of the Holy
The Who - Who's Next?
Nino Ferrer - Blanat
Catherine Howe - What a Beautiful Place
Paul McCartney & Wings - Band On The Run
Neil Young - On The Beach
Elton John - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
Steely Dan - The Royal Scam
Yoshiko Sai - Mikkou
Illusion - Out of the Mist
Santana - Caravanserai
Rodriguez - Cold Fact
Van Halen - s/t
Todd Rundgren - Something/Anything?
Jefferson Starship - Octopus
The Beatles - Let It Be
The Rolling Stones - It's Only Rock n' Roll
Curved Air - Air Conditioning
George Harrison - All Things Must Pass
Esperanto - Last Tango
Genesis - The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway
America - s/t
David Bowie - The Young Americans
Eagles - One of These Nights
ELO - A New World Record
Billy Joel - The Stranger
Marvin Gaye - What's Goin' On?
Smokey Robinson - Quiet Storm

[–] fourlemons (1669) a month ago

You've got some great ones already and there are many more to list but for now I'll start with Stevie Wonder's Songs in the Key of Life. A masterpiece.

[–] Nanook (1937) a month ago

Stevie produced so much musical joy in that decade.

[–] fourlemons (1669) a month ago

Yes he did! 😁

[–] Nanook (1937) a month ago

If you haven't seen his near hour-long performance with Wonderlove from 11/19/72 for the Soul! TV show, WNET, New York that aired 12/20/72, it's one of my favorite live performances of his. This band opened for the Stones on their tour that year. :O

https://youtu.be/E3a2roYpmzU

Music starts after 1 minute, and really kicks off at 26:37. And that's an eighteen year old Ray Parker, Jr. of "Ghostbusters" fame behind him with the red guitar.

[–] fourlemons (1669) a month ago

Thanks! I had never seen that before and watched some of it. Stevie's just in his own personal stratosphere as far as talent, and I recognize Ray in the background!

[–] Nanook (1937) a month ago

Glad you enjoyed! Part of the fun for me is the occasional shots they get of the audience enjoying themselves.

[–] jriley555 (8117) a month ago

IMO, the last truly great album Stevie produced was the darker, more interesting, more funky 'Talking Book'.

He sort of went vanilla for me after that, became very repetitive.

Led Zeppelin II
Neil Young - Harvest
Elton John - Madman Across the Water / Tumbleweed Connection
David Bowie - Station To Station
Steely Dan - Katy Lied
Stones - Sticky Fingers

[–] fourlemons (1669) a month ago

He had some amazing, unique and well-written songs on Songs in the Key of Life and what I love about his earlier music including the songs on that album is that every song sounds different. But I will agree with you that later than that, certainly by In Square Circle, the quality of the music declined. I guess even when you are as creative as he is you eventually run out of material.

[–] Nanook (1937) a month ago

Personally, I thought 1974's Fulfillingness' First Finale was definitely a dip in an otherwise great decade for Stevie, but gotta agree with fourlemons that Key of Life was stunning. Heck, I even liked Journey through the Secret Life of Plants, especially "Black Orchid."

Regardless, I invite you to check out the live set I posted just above yours. Instant mood boost. :D

[–] jriley555 (8117) a month ago

A lot of Talking Book on that set. Great stuff, Nanook. Thanks.

[–] AndyKing1967 (38068) a month ago

Rather than list about 10,000 albums, I’ll just list my favourite of all time: -

The Electric Light Orchestra - Out of the Blue

[–] fourlemons (1669) a month ago

You know a lot more about music than I do but still I bet your head explodes similarly to mine with music questions like this. Which direction to go in first! 😁

[–] AndyKing1967 (38068) a month ago

I have amassed a collection of nearly 40000 units of vinyl and cds, plus a ton of Rock and Pop Memorabilia. I love music!

[–] robocat893 (15918) a month ago

I like most of your list and I will add Jethro Tull - Aqualung

[–] BillHicksFan (10559) a month ago

I thought of putting that on, but then I'd have to list another dozen!

[–] jacotodd47 (1833) a month ago

Ok , to avoid any repeats in this thread.......

First of all, everything I see listed is in fact, outstanding.

I'll add....

"Who's Next" - The WHo

"PHysical Graffiti" - Led Zeppelin

I'm sure others will pop into my head as the day goes along.

[–] robocat893 (15918) a month ago

Physical Graffiti is the best Led Zeppelin album in my opinion.

[–] jacotodd47 (1833) a month ago

Yep, as it happens, it's my fave as well.

Zep 2 right behind.

[–] Nanook (1937) a month ago

Oh jeez. Just a couple not yet mentioned in chronological order:

The Kinks - Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneygoround, Part One
The Meters - Look-Ka Py Py
Faces - Long Player
Frank Zappa - Fillmore East - June 1971
The Band - Rock of Ages
Big Star - #1 Record
Carlos Santana & Buddy Miles - Live!
Donny Hathaway - Live
Grateful Dead - Europe '72
Gilberto Gil - Expresso 2222
Novos Baianos - Acabou Chorare
Todd Rundgren - A Wizard, a True Star
Leo Kottke - Ice Water
Charles Mingus - Changes Two
Earth, Wind & Fire - Gratitude
Deniece Williams - This Is Niecy
Fairport Convention - House Full: Live at The LA Troubadour
Devo - Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!
Sarah Vaughan - How Long Has This Been Going On?
The Soft Boys - A Can of Bees

[edit] And to tie it in to movies, after seeing Searching for Sugar Man (2012) in the theater, the first thing I did was to procure Rodriguez's output. :D

[–] BillHicksFan (10559) a month ago

There's some bands I really like, but left off because some bands spread their great stuff over a span of albums.. Fairport Convention, Average White Band... I was tempted to add "Terrapin Station" or "Blues For Allah"

I also get more into a band after seeing an interview, usually after hearing some good music.

[–] Nanook (1937) a month ago

Oh yeah. Could have gone on for pages, really. I just have an iTunes script that lets me quickly and easily export lists. Chose that Fairport album because it not just has a bunch of my favorite songs, but absolutely smokes.

And I had never even heard of Rodriguez before that doc.

[–] BillHicksFan (10559) a month ago

I never heard of him either! Two fine albums

[–] 123Guy (7259) a month ago

ever use this site? https://www.besteveralbums.com/yearstats.php?y=197

[–] BKB (9880) a month ago

I agree with all of this. Fucking Thumbs WAYYY UP!! 👍 👍

[–] Moonglum9 (11267) a month ago

Black Sabbath - Sabotage
Hawkwind - Warrior on the Edge of Time
Alice Cooper - Billion Dollar Babies
Deep Purple - Machine Head